Taliban capture key border crossing as Biden defends Afghan withdrawal

Kabul (AFP), 9 July, 2021-The Taliban said Friday they had captured a key border crossing with Iran, hours after President Joe Biden issued a staunch defence of the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The group have captured more than a third of the country’s 400 districts since the US accelerated its final pullout in early May, with the insurgents now holding an arc of territory from the Iranian border to the frontier with China.   A government official said efforts were under way to recapture Islam Qala -- the main conduit for trade between Afghanistan and Iran -- as the insurgents continue to make sweeping gains across the country.

“All Afghan security forces including the border units are present in the area, and efforts are under way to recapture the site,” interior ministry spokesman Tareq Arian told AFP.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the crossing was “under our full control”.

Hours earlier, Biden said the US military mission will end on August 31 -- nearly 20 years after it began -- having “achieved” its goals.